CHARACTERISTIC TEMPERATURE AND CURING DEGREE OF EPOXY RESIN MATRIX PREPREG DURING THERMAL CURING PROCESS

Abstract

Abstract: In order to optimize the curing parameter, the mathematical model for the simulation of the temperature field of resin matrix prepreg during thermal curing process was developed based on the curing kinetics theory and finite element analysis method. The change characteristics of the temperature and curing degree of orthotropic composite during the curing process were numerically studied, and the correctness of the numerical model and methodology was verified by comparing the numerical results with the available experimental results. The effects of heating rate and glass fiber content on the curing characteristic temperatures and curing time of E208 epoxy resin matrix prepreg were studied. The results show that the exothermic peak of curing reaction move to high temperature, and the onset temperature and the final temperature of curing process also increase with increasing heating rate. Thus, it is concluded that the faster the heating rate, the higher temperature gradient and thermal stress occur in the prepreg, while the shorter time is need for completing curing. The results also indicate that the glass fiber leads to lower curing characteristic temperatures and later curing onset time, compared to the epoxy resin. However, the effect of the glass fiber on the curing final time can be ignored for the resin matrix prepreg.

Key words: finite element method, glass fiber/epoxy resin, curing process, characteristic temperature, curing degree

CLC Number:

TB332

CHEN Shu-xian, TIAN He, LI Meng, YANG Wen-feng. CHARACTERISTIC TEMPERATURE AND CURING DEGREE OF EPOXY RESIN MATRIX PREPREG DURING THERMAL CURING PROCESS[J]. COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, 2015, 0(2): 16-20.

References

[1] VAUTARD F, OZCAN S, POLAND L, NARDIN M, MEYER H. Influence of thermal history on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber–acrylate composites cured by electron beam and thermal processes[J]. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2013, 45(2): 162-172.
[2] 高相南,孙志杰,顾轶卓,张佐光. 碳纤维对环氧树脂固化反应过程的影响[J]. 玻璃钢/复合材料, 2012, (5): 47-53.
[3] 岳广全,张博明,戴福洪,杜善义. 固化工艺规范对复合材料固化残余应力影响的实验研究[J]. 玻璃钢/复合材料, 2010, (2): 52-55.
[4] KIM S S, MURAYAMA H, KAGEYAMA K, UZAWA K, KANAI M. Study on the curing process for carbon/epoxy composites to reduce thermal residual stress[J]. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2012, 43(8): 1197-1202.
[5] YANG Q, LI X D, SHI L, YANG X P, SUI G. The thermal characteristics of epoxy resin: Design and predict by using molecular simulation method [J]. Polymer, 2013, 54(23): 6447-6454.
[6] ROUISON D, SAIN M, COUTURIER M. Resin transfer molding of natural fiber reinforced composites: cure simulation[J]. Composites Science and Technology, 2004, 64(5): 629-644.
[7] LOOS A C, SPRINGER G S. Curing of epoxy matrix composites[J]. Journal of Composite Materials, 1983, 17(2): 135-169.
[8] BOGETTI T A, GILLESPIE. Two-dimensional cure simulation of thick thermosetting composites[J]. Journal of Composite Materials, 1991, 25(3): 239- 273.
[9] CHEUNG A, YU Y, POCHIRAJU K. Three-dimensional finite element simulation of curing of polymer composites[J]. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 2004, 40(8): 895-912.
[10] 张纪奎, 关志东, 郦正能. 热固性复合材料固化过程中温度场的三维有限元分析[J]. 复合材料学报, 2006, 23(2): 175-179.
[11] 王荣国,田秋,马文有, 代成琴,田丰,陈玉金,李辰砂,曹茂盛. 数值计算模拟复合材料固化中夹杂气泡的影响和残余应力的变化[J]. 复合材料学报, 2002, 19(5): 95-101.
[12] 闫勇, 庄茁, 周正刚, 张宝艳,陈祥宝,邢丽英. 树脂比热容对复合材料固化过程数值模拟的影响[J]. 航空材料学报, 2006, 26(2): 37-40.
[13] 杨自春. 复合材料层合结构的非线性传热分析[J]. 海军工程大学学报, 2000, (5): 9-13.
[14] YUE G Q, ZHANG B M, DAI F H, DU S Y. Three-dimensional cure simulation of stiffened thermosetting composite panels[J]. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 2010, 26(5): 467-471.
[15] 郭战胜,杜善义,张博明,张宝艳,陈祥宝.碳纤维双马树脂预浸料体系的固化动力学[J].化学物理学报,2004, 17(2):219-224.
[16] 罗立, 唐庆如. 玻璃纤维对环氧基体预浸料固化特征的影响研究[J]. 玻璃钢/复合材料, 2014, (4): 13-17.
[17] 张强, 赵艳杰. 复合材料拉挤成型过程中温度和固化度的数值模拟研究[J]. 纤维复合材料, 2007, (6): 456-461.
[18] 谭华, 晏石林. 热固性树脂基复合材料固化过程的三维数值模拟[J]. 复合材料学报, 2004, 21(6): 167-172.